Chapter 155: The Progress of the Steam Engine

In a moment, the Qianqing Palace was already in sight.

The prince seemed to suddenly think of something, and asked, "That's right." Do you know what your father asked you to talk about? ”

He Xi said: "I don't know. ”

The prince glanced at He Xi and said meaningfully, "It's okay if you don't know." It's okay not to know. ”

——

He Xi had already written the name of the Liaodong factory into a booklet.

All factories in Liaodong are listed in it, and there are some detailed introductions. And what He Xi needs to pay attention to on these factories.

Now this booklet is in front of Zhu Yuanzhang. Zhu Yuanzhang flipped through it carefully, remembered something he didn't understand, and asked He Xi to explain. And the prince accompanied him on one side.

After reading it for a while, Zhu Yuanzhang closed the booklet and said, "Yes, after only a few years, what you have done also has some foundations." Today, Daming steel production has been ten times that of before. How do you think the Ming Dynasty compares to the Japan of the Meiji Restoration? ”

He Xi said, "This-"

This made He Xi not know what to say.

The volume of Daming is so large, the output of a single Taiping Iron Plant has exceeded the original steel output of Daming. And the Shenyang Iron Works in order to support the two battlefields. Supporting the shipbuilding industry, and even all kinds of machinery, when there is no technical bottleneck, accumulate funds, and increase production. The steel output of more than 100,000 tons is already the steel output of Japan before and after the First Sino-Japanese War.

Of course, steel is not the same as steel.

The proportion of Daming steel, the proportion of steel with Japan, and the steel of the Ming Dynasty are not the same thing as the steel of Japan at that time. But in terms of data, it looks like it's the same.

This is the gap between large and small countries.

The industrialization of the Ming Dynasty has not yet begun, and there are even many technologies that can be said to be local laws. But even so, in terms of steel data, it has risen very quickly.

Zhu Yuanzhang said: "That's it, I know it too." I also know that there is still a lot of work to be done. Mass production of cement has already begun. What about the steam engine? ”

Zhu Yuanzhang actually knows little about industrialization, or the modern scientific system, but for some key nodes. It's still very clear.

He Xi said: "There are still some problems with the steam engine. But rest assured, Your Majesty. This year and next, it will definitely be made. ”

Zhu Yuanzhang said: "I know, you want to do it in one step, but if you have time, you can't reach it." Sometimes, don't think too perfectly. Use it if you can. This is not what you say, you just need to perfect it in use. ”

He Xi was stunned for a moment and said, "The minister understands." ”

He Xi did not explain the research and development progress of the steam engine to Zhu Yuanzhang.

Yes. Strictly speaking, the steam engine has already been built. It's just that this steam engine is of no use to He Xi at all. This steam engine, no, it should be said that the steam workshop, is composed of boilers, condensers, levers and other components. The air tightness is not strong, and the power is not high. Count it in horsepower. Although, this horsepower is not necessarily the same horsepower as the horsepower of the West. After all, horse breeds are different. Liaodong horses are not the same as English horses.

But the error should not be large.

This large workshop covers an area of several tens of meters. How much horsepower?

Five horsepower to ten horsepower.

This horsepower is not as high as the power of some small electric donkeys.

If the volume is smaller. It can also be used in some places. Is it of any use now? except for watering the ground. Hardly any use.

No, there is actually a use.

That is to use as a waterwheel accessory.

Daming's use of water power is very mature, and the use of water wheels can be adapted to various scenarios, whether it is to push water hammer with water power. Or push the lathe with water, or push the mill with water. Wait a minute. Anyway, most of the conceivable space for the use of hydraulic power can be used almost usably.

In particular, Kasai has successfully manufactured gears and bearings, as well as some mechanical components. It makes the use of water more lightweight.

It's just that there are problems with the use of hydraulic power. It's hard to get a steady flow of water. Moreover, the use of water power to encroach on rivers was a problem that was evident in the Song Dynasty. In the Song Dynasty, both sides of the Bianhe River in Kaifeng City were powered by hydraulic machinery, which blocked the river.

Now there is a steam engine. In this way, build a large pool of water on a high place, and then let the pool release water to push the waterwheel. However, the waterwheel pushes the hydraulic machinery to work. The water that flows down from the high is then deposited at the low place, allowing the steam engine to lift the water to the high place.

Complete a cycle.

Since then, the space for the use of water power has been greatly expanded.

This can certainly make a great improvement in the productivity of Daming.

But the problem is that other traversers, even beyond the steam engine, will directly engage in an electrical revolution. And He Xi has been doing it for several years to make it look like this. He Xi was very dissatisfied. In He Xi's view, the joint operation of the steam engine and the waterwheel is just a substitute for a transitional period.

Although it is said that the huge steam engine will be made smaller, and the power will be larger. There are many technical bottlenecks in increasing the pressure of steam and engaging in high-pressure steam. But anyway, He Xi also knows the general direction. Although a lot of technical details are not known.

But He Xi felt that he had made up his mind and worked hard for a few years, and a more practical steam engine might come out.

I don't know if it can be loaded on the vehicle. However, the machine is driven directly by steam, eliminating the intermediate of the water wheel. But you can.

It's just that Zhu Yuanzhang's heart is a little anxious. And He Xi found that maybe his report this time was a little redundant. Anyway, Zhu Yuanzhang knows a lot of things in Liaodong.

However, since Zhu Yuanzhang said so, it is inevitable to promote the steam engine.

As for future updates. That's another thing.

Zhu Yuanzhang said: "Let the affairs of Liaodong go first. In the past few days, have you clarified the situation in Nanjing? ”

He Xi said: "The minister knows a little bit about it. ”

Zhu Yuanzhang said: "What do you think about the dispute between Xie Jin and Ding Xian?" ”

He Xi bypassed 100,000 thoughts in his heart, and said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, the minister thinks that the court makes decisions, so it is natural to pay attention to public opinion, and it is not clear that it is not clear, and it is abused without teaching. However, the truth has been made clear. The imperial court naturally has to make a decision, so that the people of the world know where the great politics of the imperial court are. If it is delayed for a long time, the people of the world will be at a loss and confused by strange theories. ”

Zhu Yuanzhang said: "Not bad. Is it democratically centralized? First of all, democracy. Now it's time to concentrate. Public opinion in the world cannot be controlled by others. The establishment of the newspaper is exactly this. Now it's time to make a decision. The court is coming to an end. Just how to decide? That's why I called you back. What are your thoughts? ”

He Xi secretly said in his heart: "Sure enough." ”

He Xi already had some premonitions in his heart. Now it's time to verify. He Xi is Zhu Yuanzhang's knife against the doctor, and he keeps it aside on weekdays, but when it should be used, he will never use it.

Or, this is Zhu Yuanzhang's art of war. The so-called love for soldiers is like a son, and the use of soldiers is like mud, and on weekdays, love is better than parent-child, but when it comes to a critical time, that is, do not ask about casualties, only ask about the results.

This is true on the battlefield, but also in officialdom.

Or Zhu Yuanzhang is essentially a soldier, which is why Zhu Yuanzhang is a little rough in his political methods. If you look at it from the perspective of a soldier, it is decisive in killing.

At this moment, He Xi really understood Zhu Yuanzhang, and he also charmed Zhu Yuanzhang.

When He Xi just arrived in Daming, Zhu Yuanzhang had an aura in his eyes. Because such a big person, even if it is a big man in history, He Xi has never seen it. Moreover, Zhu Yuanzhang's character, realm, means, and other aspects far surpass He Xi.

He Xi to Zhu Yuanzhang, it was simply a high mountain. Such a situation makes Zhu Yuanzhang extremely tall in He Xi's eyes.

It's just that now it's different, and He Xi has been growing for years. After so many years, He Xi is no longer Wuxia Ameng. He may not be as good as Zhu Yuanzhang now. But in many places, Zhu Yuanzhang can be looked at at eye level.

He Xi didn't have any negative emotions, and he gave the answer he had already calculated, and said: "In the opinion of the minister, it's time to correct the policy of opening the sea." When the sea was opened, it was the ministers who went first, but in fact, there was no order from the imperial court, and later the customs or something. All of them were adjustments made by the imperial court according to the situation at sea. However, the imperial court should not only change due to the situation, but also need to be justified. The time was not ripe, and now the time is ripe. ”